Acclaimed singer-songwriters Alice Howe and Freebo will be the featured performers during the Folk Music Society of Huntington’s monthly First Saturday Concerts’ series on March 2. The 8:30 p.m. concert at the Congregational Church of Huntington, 30 Washington Drive, off Route 25A, in Centerport, will be preceded by an open mic at 7:30 p.m.
Freebo, a veteran singer-songwriter and musical sideman who was Bonnie Raitt’s bass player for 10 years, was impressed upon first hearing Howe perform during the 2016 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance conference. After reconnecting with the talented newcomer at the 2017 Folk Alliance International Conference, Freebo invited Howe to record a few songs with him in California — and a musical partnership was forged. Each a compelling performer in their own right, they have been touring together and backing each other on their respective songs in concert, while Freebo produced Howe’s debut full-length album, Visions.
With her soulful, impeccably tuned voice and well-crafted poetic lyrics, Boston-based Howe has a pure, distilled sound that reflects a musical sensibility rooted in 1960s folk and 1970s southern California songwriters. Howe’s 2017 EP, You’ve Been Away So Long, features her original song “Homeland Blues,” which debuted at No. 1 on the international folk DJ top songs chart in April 2017. She participated in that year’s Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase and has earned coveted official juried showcases during the conferences of two regional affiliates of Folk Alliance International.
After more than 40 years of recording and touring with many of the great artists of our time, including Bonnie Raitt, Ringo Starr, Neil Young, and more, Freebo has come into his own as a singer-songwriter. A multi-award winner and finalist in numerous songwriting contests, Freebo was recognized as the Best Folk Artist-2007 in the Los Angeles Music Awards. He has appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” “The Muppet Show,” “The Midnight Special,” and in concert with the legendary Spinal Tap.
Tickets to the performance are priced at $25 ($20 for FMSH members) and may be purchased in advance online at www.fmsh.org or at the door (cash and checks only). For more information on the featured artists and the concert, visit the website or call 631-425-2925.
